Tomorrow, August 7th, there is an event at my local library that is called tell a joke or teach a trick. I would like to go and teach kids some magic. They are little kids. Probably 5-12. I was wondering what in your opinion would be good for their age? I never did play with my magic sets when I was young. Maybe some coin tricks? Yeah, I think I might teach some coin tricks. Any ideas? I was thinking cards. But most stuff that I do is intermediate to advanced manipulation sleight of hand. Not familiar with younger stuff. I guess I could come up with something easily if I put my mind to it. But I was just curious as to your ideas. Thanks
Brian

The coin thru the elbow is a good one.

Hey Buddy,
Thanks for the reply. Good Idea too. I almost forgot about that trick.
Thanks!

One that I have taught my daughters is
the disappearing coin under the glass.
You put a coin on a piece of paper, you cover a glass with a hanky and put the covered glass over the coin, remove the hanky and the coin has vanished; replace the hanky and remove the glass and the coin has returned. They love this trick!
And it is so easy as well as old, you probably know how to set it up. PM me if you don’t.
Oh, my girls are 6 and 7 yrs old.
Good luck
Tom

To teach kids magic I have used jumping rubber bands. I bring a bag along and pass them out. There are two cautions here.

1. Be sure the rubber bands are small enough for their hands or they will not be able to do the trick and will get frustrated.

2. There is the possibility that the kids will start snapping or shooting the bands at each other - or put them in their mouth.

I have been fortunate not to have any serious problems so far. Good luck.

Doug

I have run a magic club in our school for 33 years and there are many effects, which are suitable to teach including the ones in the previous posts.
I like taking a common object, a pencil to illustrate the principles of magic with it. For example, to show an optical illusion, make the pencil into rubber by holding it between the thumb and forefinger near one end, start shaking it up and down and it appears to be rubber. To show sleight of hand do the old routine where a pencil is placed in the crotch of the thumb, hands held in prayer position, you twist your hands around and the pencil magically is now on the bottom of hand, thumbs pointing towards the floor. Now put on your thinking cap to use a pencil to show misdirection, gimmick, and scientific principle of balance. I also do the effect where I squeeze water from a pencil (misdirection). This is an excellent method to illustrate the basic principles of magic, using a common object, a pencil.
Darryl the Wizard

There are many ideas that will be good for teaching the children. Keep in mind to keep it basic and simple and make it a hands-on workshop and not just a lecture. Let the kids try it for themselves and see the great excitement that is generated when they realize they can do it as well.

Some great ideas to teach are:
- Jumping Rubber Bands
- Vanishing coin trick where the pen ends up behind the ear
- Professors Nightmare
- A very simple locator card trick using picture cards so the kids can relate to it
- The old levitating wand or pencil trick

These are just a few. They are simple to learn and teach and you can emphasize the importance or practice and of presentation.

Do not forget to make sure all the kids take the magicians oath.

Kyle

Magic4u02
I would never teach Professors Nightmare.
I use this effect for all my shows and walk-around performances, whether children or adults (with different patter of course.) It fries adults bad, really bad!
In my opinion, it is too good to give away.
Charlie

It is a good trick for sure, but if the kids are a select group and are very eager to learn in a classroom setting, then I have no problem teaching it. If it is for a library event, then I probably would not. I do teach it at my Society of Young Magicians meetings. It really helps the kids to see the importance of how a simple trick can have so many different variations in performance.

It does fry people, however I am more happy if it simply entertains them and makes them walk away with a big smile.

Kyle

Hi,
Even after your comments, kyle, I still agree with Charlie. I do not agree with it's exposure.
Phillip

I totally understand. I guess my point was that I do teach this at my Society of Young Magicians meetings. I do NOT teach it just to the normal public at an event mentioned above.

But the SYM is affiliated with the SAM and is the young members organization. These are kids who pay dues and are national SAM members in good standing. They all take the oath and because of that, deserve to learn the tricks of the trade and whatever I can share with them.

Kyle